SUPER (eOne, 2010) D: James Gunn, w/ Rainn Wilson, Ellen Page. Rating: NNN Blu-ray package: NNN Rating: NNN
Tonally, Super, which played TIFF 2010 but never got a theatrical release up here, is all over the map.
It skips blithely from wrenching pathos to tentacles doing brain surgery. Sixties Batman-style graphics coexist with brutal violence, and tragedy with farce. You’ll either love it or hate it. Either way, stick around for the ending, which doesn’t necessarily pull everything together but does offer a thematically terrific surprise.
A fry cook (Rainn Wilson) snaps when his junkie wife (Liv Tyler) leaves him for a dope dealer (Kevin Bacon). With red tights and blunt instrument in hand, he goes out to fight crime. Along the way, he picks up a demented sidekick (Ellen Page).
Director James Gunn works with his low budget to create a raw look, and keeps the energy high. Excellent performances offset the clunky action. Wilson, Page, Tyler and Bacon all get great moments, and Michael Rooker, Andre Royo and Gregg Henry add flavour to supporting roles.
On the commentary, Gunn and Wilson tell enthusiastic, jokey production stories and muse about the theme.
EXTRAS Commentary, making-of doc, making-of titles doc. Widescreen. English, French audio. English subtitles.
